Sign construction



May l, 1934. c. M. HILL SIGN CONSTRUCTION Filed July 25, 1952 2Sheets-@eet l @494 any 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 25. 1952 May 1,I1934.

Lm mm, W 0 y w E w w *fw Q Iuwlllllilllmmw. d O O C w y d v. 0 w, mf w 0@W f. @MJ n@ @@QQGQQOWO W W il [ov 6 U Patented May 1, 1934 Uriii'STATES issiozz TENT FFCE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to sign construction and the particular aim ofthe invention is to produce a sign for advertising purposes, and thelike, which can be easily constructed and put in operation and whichwill also yield better results than the advertising signs heretoforeknown.

At the present time, a sign comprises usually a base on which arepainted the characters. Electric lamps are securedY to the face of thesepainted signs in order to illuminate the same. There are also signsknown having porcelain characters provided with the usual illuminatingdevices. The maintenance of such signs is relatively expensive and theyare subject to the attacks of the weather. The efficiency of such signs,although they might meet certain requirements, is relatively low. Thepaint either absorbs a great deal of the light producing a dull effectin the daylight or the finish of the sign is so that a glare elect isproduced. Broadly speaking, such signs are quite expensive as far asmaintenance is concerned, their life is relatively short, and there isno provision for adjustability of the individual characters according tothe re s quirements of the vision from the principal angle oi approach.Due to the glare effect or, rather to say, due to the light absorbingeifect of the sign, the expense for illumination is quite considerable.

It is the purpose of my invention to produce a sign which is easilyfabricated and is easily put in operation, requiring less maintenanceand producing a better effect with less expenditure for illumination. Asan additional advantage,

f my invention provides for adjustability of the individual signcharacters or of an entire sign,

as the case may be, relatively to the principal angle or angles ofapproach.

The objects outlined brieiiy above are obtained by employing a metallicsign body which can easily be fabricated or stamped out of single piecesaccording to the size of the sign body. The surface may be pounded,corrugated in part or in toto, or it may be polished or otherwiseiinished according to the purpose to which the sign body is to be put.Chromium plated copper sheets may be used or other metal sheets may beemployed and provided with a surface coat of chromium, or the like. Theadvantages obtained by the use of such metallic sign bodies arenumerous. In the iirst place, such a metal sign is less subject tocorrosion than a painted sign. It can be easily produced since machineprocesses can be employed to a larger extent. Such a sign body isobviously superior to a porce- (Cl. llila-130) lain body since it isless subject to breakage. Concerning the light reflecting qualities of ametallic body, these are well known to be superior to any other materialparticularly in view of the fact that they can be more easily controlledthan is the case with other materials.

The sign body, according to my invention, may be mounted so that it canbe adjusted partially or totally relative to the base. This adjusting ortilting feature will permit to position a sign character or an entiresign with respect to a certain angle in the line of approach, orrelative to illuminating devices throwing the light upon the sign in acertain angle Illuminating devices of any known kind may be easilysecured to the sign characters or to the entire sign constructed inaccordance with my invention.

Existing signs can be easily converted by securing my novel signcharacters over the face of an old sign as will be more fully describedas the description progresses.

A sign as contemplated by my invention can be readily produced atapproximately the same cost which must be expended for signs of aboutthe l The advantages resulting will be obsaine size. Vious whenconsidering the foregoing outline. I have also found that a substantialamount can be saved by the use of my sign construction relative to theexpenditure necessary for illumination. My sign can be adjusted to takefull advantage oi the existing natural light conditions and will yield amaximum effect particularly without any input as long as these naturalconditions prevail. In other words, my sign requires little or noillumination during daylight since I take advantage of the properties ofthe material and since I adjust the angle of the sign to the naturalenvironment. Expenditures for repair and maintenance will be less aswill be apparent from the above and from the description which is yet tofollow.

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawingsforming part of this specication.

In these drawings Fig. 1 shows a fabricated or stamped character;

Fig. 2 shows a side View of this character;

Fig. 3 shows an end View of the character;

Fig. fl shows a cross section along the lines 4 4 of Fig. l;

Figs. 5 and 6 show sections of a character wherein the surfaces areshaped convex or concave, respectively;

Fig. 7 shows a character mounted on a base and provided with anilluminating device;

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Fig. 8 is a somewhat enlarged section along the the lines 8-8 of Fig. 7showing how this character is mounted in substitution cf a character ofan existing sign;

Fig. 9 illustrates one method ef adjustably mounting the sign relativeto the base;

Fig. 9A shows a modied plug to be used with the embodiment illustratedin Fig. 9.

Figs. 10 and 11 show a substantially flat character made in accordancewith my invention pal'- ticularly for lamp lettering;

Figs. 12 and 13 show a partial top View and a cross section,respectively, of a border design for a sign, this border beingadjustable perpendicularly to the base; and

Figs. 14 and 15 show another border for a sign which is tiltable oradjustable.

Now referring to the drawings, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, these figures show asimple sign which may be made from a suitable metal such as chromiumplated copper or the like. The sign has a face 10 and the edges 11 and12 thereof are formed at an angle to the face so that the sign can beneatly and easily attached to a base. The Width of these overlappingedges 11 and 12 relative to the base of the sign body may be variedaccording to the effect which is to be achieved. 1t might be desirable,for example to mount the sign in a certain angle. n this case, the widthof the edges or flanges will determine the angle of the sign on thebase. It is understood, of course, that only parts of the edges may beleft, leaving socketlike projections on the sign body which willdetermine the angle thereof on the base.

The face of such a sign may be concave such as is indicated in Fig. 5 bythe numeral 13 or it may be convex as is indicated in Fig. 6 by thenumeral 14.

The surface, that is, the face of the sign may be pounded, corrugated orpolished, or provided with ornaments as desired.

I have found that a chromium surface is the best for the eifect which isto be achieved. It is understood, of course, that I do not desire to belimited to any particular metal in realizing my invention. It isentirely possible to use any one of a great number of easily fabricatedmetals and to produce my signs from sheets of such `metals and provide ametallic or other coat thereon by electrolysis or paint in such mannerthat the effect which is desired is actually achieved.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown the manner in which such a sign may bemounted. This embodiment also indicates the conversion of a lamp sign toa gas sign. The novel metal letter 15 may be produced in accordance withthe remarks previously made. 1t may be provided with the flanges oroverlapping edges as indicated at 16. If desired, these edges or anchesmay be made of different width as explained previously in order toachieve the tilting effect of the character relative to the old signmetal 17 which, in this case, is used for the base. The lamp socketsindicated at 18, 19 and 20 may be utilized for securing the character 15by inserting therein wooden plugs such as 21, 22 or 23. The sign body 15is then secured to these wood plugs by means of wood screws such as 24,25 and 26. All other sockets may remain with wooden plugs screwed intothe socket bases wherever needed to give a secure mounting for the novelsign letter. Porcelain bushings such as 27 and 28 are secured at theplaces indicated by removing the correspondn ing lamp sockets from thesign metal 17. These porcelain bushings are employed for securing theelectrodes 29 and 30 of the gas tube 31. The supports 32 and 33 for thegas tube 31 may be secured on the sign body as shown. A trough 34 may beattached to the sign body if desired. The tilting or focusing of thesign body 15 may be, in this case, it will be remembered, determined bythe width of the anges 16 on the sign body. For example, if the signletter is to be tilted forward, the upper border will be made wider thanthe lower border.

Referring now to Fig. 9, this figure shows means for adjustably securinga sign body or character 35 to a base 36. This means comprises a member37 which may be tubular and provided with an external thread as shown.This member 37 is projected through a corresponding opening in the base36 and secured thereto by means of nuts such as 38 and 39 with Washers40 and 41 interposed in the usual manner. It is thus possible byoperating these nuts to move the elongated member 37 perpendicularly tothe base 36. At the front end of the member 37 may be inserted a woodenplug 42 and secured to the face of this wooden plug 42 may be the signbody 35 by means of the wood screw 43. A washer 44 may be used, ifdesired. The sign body or character is thus attached to the base 36 andcan be focused or tilted in any angle relative to its environment.

The structure shown in Fig. 9 and just described inay be used eitherindependently or conjointly with the fiange provisions previouslydescribed. If the mounting shown in Fig. 9 is adopted, for example inthe structure discussed in connection with Figs. 7 and 8, the anges 16will limit the possible adjustment of the sign charact-er in onedirection, namely, toward the base, thus positively and accuratelydetermining the focusing of the sign, since the borders, which can be ofpredetermined widths, will act as stops for the sign against the base.Focusing away from the base can be accomplished by means of thestructure shown in Fig. 9. This focusing structure can also be used forsolely supporting the sign and tilting it in a predetermined angle tothe base. One or the other border strip may or may not contact the base,as the case may be. If the means shown in Fig. 9 is used when takingadvantage of the flange provisions on the sign character, the margin ofadjustment will be somewhat greater than would be the case if a signwith certain borders would be supported rigidly cn a base. Thisadjusting means may also be utilized for serving in the manner of asocket for the electrodes in case of a gas illuminated sign such asdiscussed in connection with Figs. 7 and 8. It is merely necessary inthis case to provide a larger wood plug 42 which, in this case must, ofcourse, be tubular. This plug will take on its rim the wood screw 43 andwill permit the insertion of the electrode through the member 37. Ihisembodiment is shown in Fig. 9A. The modied tubular plug 42 is carried bythe tubular member 37 which is perpendicularly adjustable on the base asalready explained in detail. The sign character 35 is secured by screws43' to the outer face of the rim of the plug 42. The electrode 29projects through the tubular member 37 and the gas tube 31 is joinedthereto. The flanges or edges of the sign character may be of differentWidth if desired. This is indicated at 16' and 16". The face of plug 42may be cut at an angle, if desired. The use of wood plugs for attachingthe sign furnishes the advantage of accurate lining up. The sign issimply put on the surface of the wood plugs attached to the base,

and then secured by the screws in proper position. If metal plugs wereused or plugs with predetermined threaded openings for screws to holdthe sign, it would be necessary to drill the holes on the sign inadvance. This would introduce complications and would cause greatexpense in installing the sign.

When it is desired to convert a sign for lamp lettering, the structureshown in Figs. 10 and 11 may be used. I have shown in this case asubstantially flat letter with socket holes punched out to allow thereilectors to be placed over the old lettering. The sockets 46, 47 and48 take the lamps. The sign body 45 is secured to the base or to the oldsign metal 49 by means of screws 50 and 51 as shown. If the same letteris adopted for new work, the sockets may be mounted on the sign body orcharacter directly. By using this structure, it is possible to employless powerful lamps in order to achieve the same and even a bettereifect.

The remaining gures of the drawings show particularly border strips fora sign. For example, Figs. 12 and 13 show a base 52 to which is secureda strip 53 by means of a cover strip such as 54. It may be desirable tofocus or tilt the edge of this strip partially or all around the sign inorder to get a particular reflection or an illuminating effect whichcould not be achieved in any other plane of the border strip. In orderto do this with the least expenditure, I employ wedges such as 55 whichare driven in from the side thereby lifting part of the border strip asshown in Fig. 13. Lamp sockets such as 56 and 57 or gas tubes such as 58and 59 may be secured over the face of the border strip for the purposeof illumination. The entire strip may be adjustably secured if desiredby taking advantage of the structure discussed in connection with Fig.9.

Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate the same idea applied to a strip which istilted or focused in a predetermined manner on either side as indicatedat 60 and 61. The central portion 62 may again be secured eitherpermanently or adjustably to the base 63 by means of a cover strip 64 orby using suitable sockets or washers. Ihe Wedges 65 and 66 are driven infrom either side of the strip material thus tilting and focusing thesame in the desired direction. Lamp sockets 67, 68 and 69 or gas tubes70, 71 and 72 may be mounted as desired for obtaining the mostadvantageous illumination. If desired, the wedges 65 and 66 and thewedge shown in Fig. 13 may be secured in place by separate or integralprovisions such as indicated in the drawings.

Changes may be devised Without altering the spirit of my disclosure. I,therefore, want to have it understood that I have disclosed specicembodiments of my invention only for the purpose of illustration and notfor the purpose of limiting the scope of the disclosure. What I believeis distinguishing from the art and what I desire to have protected byLetters Patent is particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a sign of the character described, a base, a metallic sign bodyfor attachment to said base, a border strip for attachment to said base,means cooperating with said sign body and said base for adjusting saidsign body perpendicularly to said base, and means cooperating with saidborder strip and said base for tilting said strip partially relative tosaid base.

2. A sign of the character described comprising, a base, tubular memberssecured to said base in perpendicularly adjustable relation thereto, acarrier secured to each of said members, and a metallic sign bodysecured to said carriers.

3. A sign of the character described comprising, a base, tubular memberssecured to said base 100 in adjustable relation thereto, plug meanscarried by each of said members, a metallic sign body secured to saidplugs, and illuminating means secured over the face of said sign body.

4. A sign structure comprising, in combination, a sign character, a basetherefor, and means for securing said character adjustably on said base,said means including a tubular member, a plug carried thereby forreceiving said character, and means for securing said member in movablecooperation with said base.

5. In a sign structure of the class described, a base, a carrier securedto said base and being perpendicularly adjustable thereto, a signcharacter mounted on said carrier, electrode means projecting throughsaid carrier, and illuminating means mounted over the face of saidcharacter and cooperating with said electrodes.

6. In a sign structure of the class described, a base, carrier meanssecured to said base and being perpendicularly adjustable thereto,character means mounted on said carrier means, stop means integral withsaid character means for defining the position of said character meansrelative to said base in one end position thereof, electrode meansprojecting through said carrier means, and illuminating means securedover the face of said character means and cooperating with saidelectrode means.

CLAYTON M. HILL.

